Boynton Draws 9 For City Election

Three On Slate In Each Of 3 Races For November

September 5, 2003|By Beth P. Krane Staff Writer

Boynton Beach — The field of candidates for mayor and two City Commission seats is set.

Nine hopefuls -- three for each open spot -- met Thursday's noon deadline for the Nov. 4 election. Among them are some familiar faces, including former two-term mayor Jerry Taylor and former two-term commissioner Henderson Tillman. Some city advisory board members and perennial candidates round out the field.

Only one of those vying to lead the growing city has never served on a city board: Boynton Beach native Terry Niebel Iiames is challenging incumbent Mike Ferguson for the southeast-side District 3 commission seat. Jose Rodriguez, a member of the Community Relations board, also is in that race.

In addition to Taylor and Tillman, Ron Washam, 12-year chairman of the Community Relations Board, is running for mayor. Washam, 46, who lost to Mayor Gerald Broening in 1999, wants to continue attracting new businesses and keep it a family-friendly place.

Taylor, who left office in 1999 because of term limits, tried unsuccessfully to reclaim his seat in 2001. He is an assistant to County Commissioner Mary McCarty.

"There won't be a learning curve," said Taylor, 67, whose top priority is expanding the police force as the city grows.

Tillman, 44, a Spanish River High School teacher and member of the Community Redevelopment Agency Board, said he wants to build the tax base and get the Heart of Boynton redevelopment plan implemented.

"I understand what's needed to make downtown as viable as it should be," he said.

In District 1 on the southwest side, there are three candidates -- Bill Cwynar, Bob Ensler and Alice Otis. Incumbent Ron Weiland cannot run again because of term limits.

Ensler, 72, a retired engineer, has served on the Planning and Development Board and is currently an alternate. His top priorities are making Boynton Beach a destination city, increasing its tax base and updating the master development plan.

"We need to have zoning in the city that protects property values," said Ensler, who ran for the same seat in 2001.

Leisureville resident Otis, 75, wants continued growth but will pay close attention to environmental concerns, including air, water quality and greenways. Otis, a former Planning and Development Board member, is on the Library Board.

"I'm interested in the entire city. I'm not a one-issue candidate," said Otis, who has worked as a translator and for the U.S. Foreign Service.

Cwynar, a Planning and Development Board member who ran in 1999, could not be reached Thursday.

In District 3, Ferguson said he will again emphasize lowering city taxes and improving the city's "cultural landscape."

"I think we need some continuity of administration," said Ferguson, 75, who runs a business that collects individuals' health histories.

Iiames, 54, an administrator at her husband's janitorial business, thinks the City Commission needs new faces because the current group "doesn't listen to residents." She favors growth, but has been upset by piecemeal zoning changes and recent building height-limit exceptions.

"Let's look at our city map and let's [grow] the right way, not here, there and everywhere," she said.

Rodriguez could not be reached Thursday afternoon.

Beth P. Krane can be reached at bpkrane@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6631.